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Incumbent Joan Laursen and challenger Mark Miller were elected Tuesday to the Pleasanton school board — with Laursen leading the race with 6,612 votes or 28.86% of the votes cast, according to the unofficial election results posted by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters’ Office.
Miller, a Pleasanton parent and information technology manager, trailed behind Laursen with 5,781 votes, or 25.23%, in the race for two school board seats.
Challenger Paige Wright and incumbent Jeff Bowser were in a close battle for third place as votes were being counted throughout the night — with Bowser leading by approximately 0.2% around midnight Wednesday.
However, once the final Election Night totals were announced 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, Wright finished with 22.92% and Bowser with 22.84%, with 19 votes separating the pair, according to unofficial election results.
Laursen, elected November 2010 to serve her first term on the school board, stated she felt great about the results and knows she worked really hard.
Her goals include strengthening student learning and engagement, preparing all students for college and career, and having modern facilities equipped with resources students need to succeed.
Laursen and Bowser held a combined election party at the Tri-Valley United Democratic Campaign office on Springdale Avenue.
District officials such as Pleasanton schools superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, Pleasanton Teacher’s Association president Janice Clark and Trustee Chris Grant attended the election party — including many other Laursen and Bowser supporters.
Miller and Wright hosted separate election parties at their homes Tuesday night.
Miller’s guests expressed their thanks to him for “stepping up” and making people “feel like they have a voice.”
Miller, who will be serving his first term, is honored Pleasanton residents have confidence that he will help “move the district forward.”
He hopes to re-establish the trust in the district and school board, as well as reconnect the educational community to develop and implement the initiatives that position Pleasanton students for success. In addition, he would like to rescind the calendar change and find alternatives for the 2016-17 school year.
Bowser said it’s too early to say if he would run again for school board in two years.
“I’ve been campaigning all year, so it will be nice to have a little break,” he added.
For more information about the unofficial Election Night results from Alameda County, visit its website.
The unofficial election results include early vote-by-mail tallies and totals reported by 100% of the precincts on Election Night.
Bowser. He couldn’t even carry Pleasanton in his county election. No wonder he came in fourth..errr..last place. How embarrassing is that? I hope Parvin’s resume is updated.
Important to note that Laursen received 51 percent fewer votes than she did in 2010. I hope she pays attention to that fact.
Bowser made it obvious that his first priority is the union. While we have many excellent teachers it is the children, parents and teachers that make this community great, and not just one group of people.
Does anyone else every remember an incumbent losing in a School Board Election in Pleasanton? I don’t.
I am proud of both Paige and Mark stepping up when there was a great need in this district. Change will never happen if everyone says there is nothing wrong. We have serious problems that need to be addressed in this district, hopefully that will occur now.
Thankyou Mark & Paige! Wish you both had been elected. But hopefully now the board will see that they need to listen to the families and parents of Pleasanton moving forward.
First, thanks to Jeff Bowser for his time as a Trustee. Personally, I can’t remember agreeing with Jeff on any meaningful issue and I believe his blind support of the unions and administration cost our district precious time, and millions of dollars. Regardless, the role of Trustee is a thankless and difficult position, and as a resident and parent i am thankful to all who agree to put the target on their head. For his next phase, I hope he cuts out the middlemen (us) and directly seeks a position in union leadership. At least then his title will match his body of work.
I hope Trustee Laursen hears the message, and the sound of footsteps behind her. The board of trustees is elected to represent the voters. Instead, she has consistently aligned with Trustee Bowser and the Superintendent (dragging trustee Grant along behind them on a leash). The lack of free thinking hints of collusion and back-room deals, as was witnessed with the calendar process (there are 5 options…no wait. Parvin says a deal was cut with the unions behind the scenes….only 2 options!). You will no longer have the security blanket of a block vote, Trustee Laursen. There will be change, Joan, and you will either participate or you can sit in the corner with your arms crossed. I hope you choose to participate.
To Trustees Arkin, Hintzke, and newly elected Miller. Be careful what you ask for – you got it. What will you do with it? How much courage do you have? You (and candidate Wright) received an overwhelming voice of support from the parents and community. Do not let them down. The push back will be significant from an administration who claims everything is fantastic and that any dissenters are simply racist, or they don’t represent Pleasanton. The Superintendent is a bully, and she will resort to extreme measures to silence you. Do not allow this to happen. The deputy superintendent will use the same hostile tactics employed within her own staff to control and intimidate you. Sadly, we may have to pay millions as a district to oust them but the payback will be short. Their leadership and decisions are costing us much more right now in legal fees to pay off those who file complaints. It’s a terrible combination of arrogance and incompetence. Your path is difficult, but as a parent I thank you for your bravery.
It’s time to move forward, with open ears and eyes. Trustees, please represent your voters, parents and children. We don’t want to hear happy talk about the number of photocopies made by people paid to make copies, or classrooms cleaned by people paid to clean, or how incredible it is that the SF Giants are doing so well. This is serious business, and your constituents are unhappy. Contrary to the superintendent’s opinion, communication is not the problem. Incompetence and arrogance is the problem.
“Let’s Move Forward” let’s be honest and reveal who you are: Trustee Arkin.
To “Let’s move forward” – Amen. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
It is a complete contradiction to elect candidates backed by the teacher’s union, such as Laursen, and especially Bowser, who is in bed, literally, with the Pleasanton teacher’s union – his wife was a salary negotiator, and now president of the union. Bowser had the nerve in the campaign to tell us there was no conflict of interest there! Bowser’s tenure was a conflict of interest from day one.
When the union endorse candidates, voters should run the other direction.
Al Shanker, the long time president of the American Federation of Teachers – east coast teacher’s union, had this to say about students and education: “When the students pay union dues, then we will care about them.” That sums it up for all teacher’s unions, and anyone who believes the unions care about anything but the union, is living in a dream world.
With the Superior Court decision last summer about teacher tenure being unconstitutional, (being appealed by union-lover Jerry Brown, we may yet have some hope for public education. Meantime, good teachers need to hang in there!
Anyone who truly understands the roles of the school board as the employer, and the union as representing the employees, understands this.
Every since the strike here, decades ago, the PUSD has caved to the union repeatedly. I taught during that strike, and the majority of the teachers behaved like dock workers.
We need to watch Laursen carefully, there is so much corruption and deception around this school board and the Superintendent that residents need to support the fresh voices on the board, and work to return the school board to its proper role.
“When the students pay union dues…”
There’s no evidence anywhere that Shanker ever said that. Google it.
Why not stick to the facts? Just because people repeat it doesn’t make it true.
I’m not agreeing or disagreeing with the rest of what you said, just pointing out this out.
When “it” hits the fan in the Jon V. trial, Laursen will wish she would have come in third.
Paige,
Thank you for running for the school board, I know that if you had been elected you would have served the community with morals and no hidden agenda’s. I hope you keep attending meetings and keep your voice heard by those in office.
Unbelievable! With the dysfunctional school board and administration, the people of Pleasanton re-elect Laursen, and came close to re-electing Bowser! Are you kidding me???!!! Do the unions have the electorate completely by the you-know-whats?
It never ceases to amaze me at all the uninformed people in this City that make assumptions based on one Trustees claims and accusations. Was it Laursen and Bowser who brought about all of these issues everyone in town is up in arms about? NO! If everyone knew the truth, they would understand it’s Board President Jaimie Hintze who is the problem. Good to see Trustee Laursen was re-elected and congratulations to her. Now that Trustee Bowser has lost to Mr. Miller, Trustee Hintze has just gained another puppet in the likes of Trustee Arkin. Empowering this corrupt and unprofessional Board President by electing Mr. Miller will only further hinder the progression of the School Board and the future will show just how badly missed Trustee Bowser will be. Can’t wait to see how badly this new group of Trustees (Hintze, Arkin, Miller) screw things up. Thank you for all of your time and dedication Trustee Bowser, you truly were appreciated more than you will ever know!
Not Surprised by the uninformed. OK, I’ll bite. Could you please expand upon the following (with specifics):
1.)”based on one Trustees claims and accusations” -what specific claims and accusations are you referencing?
2.)”Empowering this corrupt and unprofessional Board President”. How is she corrupt and unprofessional?
3.)”hinder the progression of the School Board”. Specifically, how will progression be hindered and possibly you could provide some specific issues where this may happen?
Thank you in advance for the enlightenment.
Joe
Hey Not Surprised, how about some cheese to go with that whine? You, Bow Wow and Parvin shoukd plan to have lunch I’m sure they will have plenty of time on their hands soon. I recommend Italian. We have plenty of choices.
Is anyone shocked that the Superintendent attended an election night party?!?
I thought staff was supposed to be apolitical. Whoops I guess I was wrong.
I’ll bite too! Please enlighten us ‘Not surprised by the uninformed’
Besides the superintendent, the union reps for APT were at the party as well. Maybe nothing illegal but certainly ethically its questionable at best. Just another reason why some change is needed.
“Not Surprised by the uninformed” (AKA Bowser) Shame on you for trying to spin this and pin it on Hintze – if anyone on that board was corrupt is was you! You were so focused on getting campaign support and funds from the teachers union and the lawyers PUSD hires you lost focus on what should have been your priority – THE CHILDREN – this is a SCHOOL BOARD!! If Hintze is corrupt I’m glad it is in favor of what is best for the kids NOT what is best for her personal gain!
While I understand there are many reasons not to like Bowser, I don’t get the “us” and “them” mentality that many here have with the teachers. The Board should represent all stakeholders, and the teachers union is part of that picture. Should they get everything they want all the time? No. But I don’t see someone who is pro-teacher as being anti-parent. We should all be on the same team, and we need leaders who unify the stakeholders and strengthen our community.
Welcome Miller and welcome back Laursen. I hope you can work together to make a difference for our children, our schools, and our community.
Actually BobB,
Shanker said this: ( My wording was not exact, it’s been years.):
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/albert_shanker.html
“When schools children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”
Google it.
Such nasty mean people. How funny you all fail to mention the conflict of interest from Arkin and Hintzke. Hintzke has a family member employed by PUSD- where is the outrage? Arkin and Hintzke campaigned for candidates for the school board so the votes could tip in their favor! Where is the outrage? MORE than half of the voters were for Laursen and Bowser. Miller promised to listen to people in this community- I’ll be curious to see this new miraculous approach he has to meeting all sides interests, not just the personal ones he spoke throughout his campaign.
@Evangeline Brabant,
Please use a reliable source, not “Brainy Quotes”. There are no verifiable cross references on that site. It is full of falsely attributed quotes, like this one for example:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html
Second, if you put quotation marks around words, it is generally expected that you are quoting someone, not paraphrasing.
But in this case you revised quote is still unsubstantiated.
Look here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/romneys-unsubstantiated-quote-from-union-leader/2012/05/28/gJQAhbOxwU_blog.html
There is no evidence that Shanker said either your original version, or your revised version.
I’m absolutely perplexed by the fact that Mark Miller won over Paige. Mark threw his hat in the ring, never having had anything to do with the school board, when he found out about the calendar change.
Which, again, he would have known about, had he made any effort to follow the school board happenings. Which he did not.
So now he will be a school board trustee. Here’s hoping he’s more than a one issue guy, who will put actual effort into knowing what’s going on in the future.
And I hope he will not become Hintzke’s parrot, like Arkin.
There are many falsely attributed quotes flying around out there. It is always good to check your sources.
I don’t know why anyone thinks Arkin and Hintzke endorsing Miller and Wright was a problem, but it wasn’t a problem for Chris Grant to endorse both Laursen and Bowser. Laursen and Bowser also endorsed each other why wasn’t that a problem?
Such double standards.